Before you spend on major works, you need to know whether Section 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 applies. Get it wrong and you may only be able to recover £250 per leaseholder, no matter how much the job actually costs. This checker compares each leaseholder's likely contribution against the statutory thresholds.
The two Section 20 thresholds
- Qualifying works: consultation is required if any one leaseholder would have to contribute more than £250 towards the works.
- Qualifying long-term agreements (contracts of more than 12 months, such as a managing agent or lift maintenance contract): consultation is required if any one leaseholder would pay more than £100 in any accounting year.
How to use the checker
- 1Choose whether you are checking one-off works or a long-term agreement.
- 2Enter the total cost (for an agreement, the cost per year).
- 3Enter the number of leaseholders, or the highest single contribution if shares are unequal.
- 4Read the verdict — consultation required or not — and the per-leaseholder figure.
If consultation is required
You will usually follow a notice of intention (stage 1), a notice of estimates (stage 2) and, if needed, a notice of reasons for award (stage 3). Use our free Section 20 consultation notice and estimates notice templates to get started, and confirm the correct route with your solicitor.
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